A brand new boutique hotel and tea room could be opening in Cambridge's city centre.

If plans are given the green light, the historic Hobson House building on St Andrew's Street will be restored and transformed into a luxury hotel.

Key features of Cambridge’s former police and fire station will be preserved, restored and opened up to the public if developer Henley’s plans to create a 57 all suite hotel and tea room are given the go ahead.

Hobson House, which was built in 1901, sits on a site associated with the charity founded by Thomas Hobson, the public-spirited character from seventeenth century Cambridge.

Since the police station moved in the 1960s, the building has been used mainly as offices, most recently by Cambridge CityCouncil.

Hobson House in Cambridge (Image: RMG Photography)

But under new plans, the building's original features including the facade, ornate staircase, entrance hall and stain-glass windows could all be restored.

A hidden gem - the former drill yard - would be opened to the public as a quirky tea room.

Henley will open up Hobson House up on Monday, November 26, to display their plans for the building and give the public a first glimpse of some of the original features around which the restoration will be focused.

The facade will be restored as part of the plans

All local residents are welcome to attend the exhibition, which will take place from 4pm to 8pm.

Nassar Khalil, director of hotels and leisure at Henley, said: “Hobson House is a real architectural jewel in the crown of Cambridge city centre. Hidden gems like the ornate entrance hall and staircase, the drill yard and stained-glass windows have effectively been hidden from the public through its use as a police and fire station, and latterly offices.

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“Through our plans to transform it to a boutique luxury hotel and tea room, we are delighted to ensure the key original features of the building will be restored, preserved and finally opened up to the public.

The ornate staircase inside

“The restoration will also provide a boost to the local economy. Our plans will create jobs and apprenticeships and deliver a unique hotel model that will add to Cambridge’s hotel offer, invite more extended stays in the city and encourage guests to use neighbouring businesses such as

restaurants and bars by forging partnerships with them.”

The history of Hobson House

Standing on the site of the former Spinning House, the house was founded by Mr Hobson in 1628 and served as a workhouse before being turned into a prison and correctional facility.

By 1852 the Spinning House was the official prison of the vice-chancellor of Cambridge University.

The building was then demolished in 1901 to make way for what is now Hobson House, which served as a police and fire station.

In the late 1960s a new police station was built at Parkside and Hobson House was then converted for office use.

The original gaol and exercise yard for inmates still exists, as do a number of original features including the front elevation, stained glass windows, original staircase, panelled rooms and a drill hall roof structure.

The building went up for sale at the end of 2016.

If plans are approved, Henley hope the brand new hotel and tea room would be open by summer 2020.